Marvel At This Drivable Bugatti Chiron, Built From A Million LEGO Pieces And 2304 Electric Toy Motors

As cool as the 5.3-million-piece LEGO X-Wing fighter the toymaker built in Times Square was — the ship didn't actually fly. That's what makes LEGO's latest over-the-top build even more impressive. There's over a million pieces of LEGO Technic in this life-sized Bugatti Chiron, as well as 2304 tiny LEGO electric motors allowing it to be actually driven to speeds of over 29km/h.

That is, of course, much slower than an actual Bugatti Chiron, which boasts a top speed of 420km/h. But as impressive an engineering feat as the real car is, as someone who's been building with LEGO my entire life, I can't even begin to wrap my head around the logistics of recreating a working Chiron using over a million interlocking plastic pieces.

LEGO started the build back in September of 2017 (after months of planning) and only finished it a few months ago.

An underlying metal frame is one of just a few non-Lego pieces on this Chiron. (Photo: Lego)

Surprisingly, there's not a single drop of glue in the replica, which LEGO's master builders often use to hold larger creations together. But to make it drivable on four wheels, and to properly support the weight of 680kg of plastic, a human driver, and a passenger, the vehicle is supported on a minimal steel framework that also includes minimal non-LEGO parts for the vehicle's drivetrain.

Many of the Lego Chiron's interior elements don't actually work, but the brake pedal and steering wheel do. (Photo: LEGO)

Everything else, from working head and tail lights, to doors that open and close, to a lavishly detailed, blocky interior (with a steering wheel, dashboard, shifter, seats, brake pedal, and mirrors) is made from LEGO bricks or LEGO Technic pieces. To get the colours just right, LEGO even had to manufacture 56 new parts for this build, which took over 13,400 man hours to complete. How much do you think this Chiron is insured for?

Photo: LEGO

Even the Chiron's motor is made from LEGO.

Photo: LEGO

The Chiron's frame is strong enough to support both a driver and a passenger.

Photo: LEGO

The spoiler automatically raises and lowers, but at 29km/h probably doesn't generate much downforce.

Photo: LEGO

LEGO even had to build a custom low-torque screwdriver, out of LEGO, to help adjust the car's cylinder pistons.

Photo: LEGO

That plastic interior is somehow more lavish than my car's is.

The replica looks nearly perfect, but it's what's under the hood, or, more accurately, inside the trunk, that's most impressive. LEGO connected 2304 of its Technic motors using 2016 axle pieces, and 4032 plastic gears, to create a functional electric motor that generates upwards of 5.3HP. That's no where near enough power to satisfying slam you back into your seat as you accelerate in this Chiron, but it's enough to get the model up to over 29km/h which is nothing to baulk at.

Nope, not for sale. (Photo: LEGO)

LEGO, understandably, has no plans to put this Bugatti Chiron into production, as the printed instruction manuals alone would undoubtedly cost you hundreds of dollars in shipping. You'll have to be satisfied with this much smaller replica of the ultimate dream car instead — at least it's easier to park.

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